Base-plate for lamp-holders of miners&#39; caps.



No. 674,322. Patented May l4,'l90l.

A. H. STOW.

BASE PLATE FOR LAMP HOLDERS 0F MINEF IS CAPS.

(Application filed Nov. 27, 1899.)

(No Model.)

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- ers caps.

UNITED STATES PATENT QEFI E.

AUDLEY H. STOW, OF MATEWAN, WEST VIRGINIA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 674,322, dated May 14, 1901. Application filed November 27, 1899. Serial No. 73 8,415. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AUDLEY H. STOW, a citizen of the United States, residing at Matewan, in the county of Mingo and State of West Virginia, have invented a new and useful Base-Plate for the Lamp-Holders of Miners Caps, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in the base-plates for the lamp-holders of min- The lamps generally used by miners consist of an oil cup or reservoir having on one side a spout for the wick and on the opposite side a hook for attaching the lamp to its holder or support. Heretofore the support has usually been made either of stiff leather or of sheet metal and some composition resembling leather, the support being secured to the front of the cap andprovided with one or more perforations or holes,through which the hook of the lamp may be inserted. A slot in the upper angle of the holder has heretofore been used to prevent the lamp from swinging sidewise. It has also been proposed to accomplish the same end by forming up ribs in the base-plate, the said ribs serving to keep thelamp from swinging sidewise to a certain extent, while also strengthening the holder and serving to carry 01'1" waste oil. As the said ribs are comparatively rigid, they will usually be made of a size to fit the largest size of miners lamps, in which case, however, owing to the wide range in the size of miners lamps, the smallest sized lamps will have nearly the same freedom of motion sidewise as heretofore.

The first and main object is to provide a base-plate readily adjustable to any size lamp, while also providing, incidentally and 'secondly, a base-plate having nearly if not quite the strength of the heretofore ribbed baseplate, which may also, thirdly, keep the lamp at will more surely and certainly from swinging not merely sidewise, but in any direction, which will, fourthly, equally serve to carry off waste oil,and which may also, lifthly,be manufactured more readily and cheaply. I attain these objects by the device illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a three-quarter front view of a miners cap, lamp-holder, and lamp in position; Fig. 2, a three-quarter front view of lamp; Fig. 3, a' vertical section through forward part of cap, improved holder, and lamp; Fig. 4, a horizontal section through forward part of cap, improved'holder, and lamp, and along the line B B in Fig. 3; Fig. 5, also a horizontal section similar to Fig. 4, showing, however, asomewhat different form of holder; Fig. 6, a three-quarter front view of improved holder, without either lamp or cap, however.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The ininers lamp L, Fig. 2, is of the usual construction, being provided with an attaching-hook H.

The lamp-holder, like those in general use heretofore, includes (see Figs. 1 and 6,)a horizontal top portion or hook-plate I, a nearly vertical body or base portion I", and a vizorplate 1, extending downward and forward at an obtuse angle to said portion I". The latter is made longitudinally concave or spoon-shaped to adapt it to receive the body of lamp L, and the cavity extends through the vizor-plate I. The entire device I, I", and I is preferably formed in one piece of sheet metal,which is shaped in suitable dies.

The ribs A (see Figs. 1, 4c, 5, and 6) form the sides of the elongated cavity, which .becomes shallower toward its upper and lower ends in consequence of the side ribs becom ing less prominent. At their lower ends the ribs A converge upon curved lines, as ridges R, and rivets pass through the adjacent outer flared portions or corners for securing the plate 1 properly to the cap-vizor V. This form adapts the device to carry off waste oil, the point of discharge of the samebeingthus at the center of the vizor-plate I.

The base-plate being preferably made of thin flexible sheet metal, its sides A A may be easily bent by the minor by pressure with his fingers and confined between the approaching ridges R R, Figs. 1 and 6, until it entirely disappears at or near the lower rim of the vizor, the said concavity thus forming, preferably, a somewhat spoon-shaped depression, beginning at the upper edge of said base-plate and extending to the lower edge, the said concavity or spoon-shaped depression being due to the adjustable side ribs AA, Figs. 1 and 6, which are the sides of the said holder suitably formed up to this end and may themselves be fluted, flanged, or otherwise ribbed to add strength. Outside the said ridges R R a somewhat. similar concavity is preferable, as shown, Figs. 1 and (i, in orderthat the said improved base-plate may be suitably attached to the vizor by means of rivets, eyelets, or otherwise, the object of the said ridges R B being the better to carry off waste oil. The said ridges R R, however, may be entirely Omitted, in which case the said improved base-plate will have the special advantage of being more readily and cheaply made, owing to the simple form of dies required may be rather more readily attached to the vizor, and from a practical standpoint is, ifanything, rather the preferable form, although it will i not so effectively carry off waste oil. The said base-plate may be suitably attached by rivets, eyelets, solder, or otherwise, except where the lamp rests, however, and preferably immediately below it, the said base-plate maybe varied in shape largely, convex, concave, plane, or combinations of same, all of which will be herein understood to be comprehensively embraced'in the designation concave base-plate, the concavity of this said base-plate being due to the said side ribs A A, which are thus an essential part of the said concave base-plate. The said concave base-plate is preferably made of thin sheet metal, such that the said concavity may be readily varied or adj usted by the miner, as by the pressure of the fingers, in bending the said side ribs A A, Figs. 1, 4, due, either in toward each other or outward to suit the particular lamp in use at the time, the flexibility of the metal permitting either a tight fit or a loose fit at will, and thus ren dering the base-plate adjustable The thickness of the sheet metal may be either lessened until it entirelydisappears, leaving the holder consisting of whatever form of lining may be used, or the thickness of the sheet metal may be increased until such a pressure as the fin gers may exert may not readily bend the said ribs either in or out, as may be desired, so that a tap from a hammer maybe necessary; but no matter how much pressure may be nec essary the form of the said side ribs still admits of adjustability, being open, as it were. Thus the sides of the base-plate, which in the convex form merely serve to add stiffness, in my improved concave base-plate by being formed up into the said adjustable side ribs not only largely increase the strength and d urability, carry off waste oil, keep the lamp from swinging sidewise, may be adjusted to any size lamp, and may be extended laterally until they at will actually embrace the lamp. Were it not for the incidentally large waste of sheet metal the sides of the said concave base-plate would be preferably extended forwardin the shape of tongues or flaps or ears so designed and proportioned as to form springclasps, as 1, Figs. 1, 3, 4:, 5, and 6. Owing to the said waste of sheet metal the said spring-clasps are preferably separate pieces or parts suitably united to the said baseplate. The lamp-hook having been inserted in its proper hole in the holder and the body of the lamp between the spring-clasps, as in Figs. 4c and 5, the lamp may be thus at will held rigidly in position, although for certain kinds of work, however, it is desirable that the lamp mayswiug forward freely, as in order to prevent spilling the oil, in which case the said spring-clasps may be bentv back out of the way, and if of su fficient length maybe bent back until they rest against the cap or against the head-plate J, Figs. 1, 3, &c., thus tending to steady the holder and keep it from rocking, all of which will be herein considered to be embraced in the comprehensive designation and described as adj ustable side ribs.

It is to be noted that the ridges R are not easily compressible, like the ribs A, but are used merely to confine and carry off waste oil.

In order to dist ribute the weight of the lamp and holder more uniformly upon the forehead, a suitable head-plate J, Figs. 1 and 6, which may be ribbed or flanged to give it strength, is preferably attached to the back of the holder at-or near where the bottom of the lamp rests. The shape of this head-plate, however, may be varied largely or even entirely omitted. It may, for instance, be extended upward toward the hook-plate until it becomes, as a limit, the convex base-plate heretofore in use, or may be extended downward and forward until also forming a vizorplate. It may, however, be also extended laterally and the said lateral extensions bent forward until they rest against the sides of the base-plate, (see Fig. 4,) and thus tending to keep the base-plate and its contained lamp from rocking. By extending the ends of the said head-plate still farther forward they may be made to serve also as springclasps and as such have one special advantage-that, owing to their length, they may be made quite stiff, so as to hold the lamp firmly and yet have considerable play. These forwardly inclined lateral extensions of the head-plate serve the same purpose as and are but another form of spring-clas iis, placed, however, on the outside of the said concave base-plate. The said spring-clasps, of whatever form and extent, vertically or horizontally, or both, whether an integral part of the said base-plate or of the head-plate, or of both, or separate parts suitably united, whether within or without, will be herein comprehensively embraced in and by the designation spring-clasps.-

The spring-clasps 1, Figs. 1, 3, 41-, &c., may

be varied in length, shape, and breadth, horizontally and vertically, very largely. They may be extended either upward or downward much more than shown, or both, until they become of themselves the said improved concave base-plate having adjustable side ribs. The said spring-clasps may also be used in connection with other forms of baseplate.

The said spring-clasps used with the heretofore proposed ribbed base-plate will give the same all the advantages of adjustability, strength, &c., in the same way the heretofore usual form of convex base-plate may have its sides extended laterally, so as to form the said spring-clasps, or spring-clasps as separate parts may be suitably united, so as to act in conjunction with said convex baseplate. The said side extensionsin the form of spring-clasps of whatever form have the essential features of concavity and adjustability, as it is not material whether the concavity or hollow be regular and uniform or more or less irregular and distorted, as the particular construction may require, and in view of which the spring-clasps may also be properly considered and designated as adjustable side ribs.

The size, shape, proportion, length, horizontally and vertically, of my improved baseplate may also be varied largely. It may not extend to the hook-plate above nor to the lower rim of the vizor. It may be shortened until it only forms a narrow strip with its ends bent up, so as to form an adjustable concave rest for the lamp similar to the said spring-clasps I, Fig. 1, &c., and in this form may be properly also described as springclasps, in which form it may be suitably attached to the usual convex base-plate, or lateral extensions of said usual form of convex base-plate may be inclined forward and toward each other in such a manner and such proportions as to form my concave adjustable base-plate. As an extreme a spring having only one end free to move may be used, or spring-clasps placed inside the improved holder and spring-clasps formed by lateral extensions of the said head-plate or base-plate of whatever form may all be used in the same holder as part of them to keep holder from rocking and part to hold and embrace lamp, or all forms of spring-clasps may be entirely omitted, the base-plate having the said adjustable side ribs A A, Figs. 1, 850., but with out other additions.

The width of the clasps or of the base-plate, or of both, may be varied in proportion to their thickness until what was sheet metal may now become wire.

My improved base-plate is preferably lined with suitably-prepared paper, papier-mach, canvas, leather, or other similar and suitable material, to the end that it may be rendered noiseless, or my improved base-plate may be described and designated as consisting of paper, papier-Inach, canvas, leather, rubber, or other material, as above, suitably backed by sheet metal, to the ends and for the purpose specified. No particular material nor combinations of materials are essential. Any single material or combination or combinations of materials may be used to the ends specified.

The number of parts suitably united, to the ends specified, may be varied largely. The relative positions horizontally, vertically, backward, or forward may be varied largely, as may be the methods of attachment, rivets, eyelets, lapped edges, solder, 85c.

My concave base-plate may be extended backward at the top to form the usual or other form of hook-plate, or a separate hook-plate or horizontal top piece may be suitably united with said concave base-plate, or said concave base-plate may be provided with clips or fasteners, by which it may be united readily to an ordinary cap, in which case it will itself form the holder, or to other forms of miners lamp-holder.

The well-known slot cut in the upper part of the base-plate that the lamp-hook may pass through when the lamp swings forward may I be used, although not shown.

What I claim is A holder for a miners lamp adapted to be attached to a cap, the same comprising a backplate, a base-plate having a horizontal top part, a body portion which is provided with a longitudinal concavity to receive the lamp and having side ribs as specified, the springclasp, and the head-plate J arranged behind,

the body and attached to the back-plate, and having its outer side portions bent forward and inward at an angle to meet the said ribs, as shown and described. I In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

A. H. STOW. Witnesses:

M. H. THOMPSON, S. SHEIN. 

